Holder and fastener

ABSTRACT

A device for holding an object and fastening same in a desired location. For example, the device may be used for securing a corsage or the like to an item of wearing apparel. The device includes a first element comprising a first body member adapted to have a corsage secured thereto and means defining a socket integrally connected to the first body member. The device further includes a second element comprising a second body member and fastener means in the form of pins projecting outwardly therefrom. When the device is used in conjunction with a corsage, the second element is adapted for disposition on the inside of the wearing apparel with the fastener pins adapted to pierce the wearing apparel and enter the socket of the first element to effect releasable engagement therebetween.

, United States Patent [191 Abraham HOLDER AND FASTENER [75] Inventor: Frederick W. Abraham, Redwood,

Calif.

[73] Assignee: Fabet, 1lnc., Redwood City, Calif. 22} .Filed: Sept. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 177,683

[52] US. Cl. ..24/6, 24/90 PR, 24/153 S I [51] Int. Cl ..A45f 5/08, A44b 9/08 [58] Field of Search ..24/5, 6, 90 PR, 49 P,

24/73 GS, 208 A, 259 A, 153 S, 201 S [56] References Cited -UN1TED STATES PA'lEN-TS 6/1960 Phillips et a1. ..24/73 GS 1,633,616 6/1927 Sokol ..24/259 A 3,360,835 1/1968 Foertmeyer ..24/9O PR FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,385,691 12/1963 France ..24/90 PR [451 May 29, 1973 Primary Examiner-James T. McCall Assistant Examiner-Kenneth J. Dorner Attorney-Jas. M. Naylor. Frank A. Neal and John K. Uilkema [57] ABSTRACT A device for holding an object and fastening same in a desired location. For example, the device may be used for securing a corsage or the like to an item of wearing apparel. The device includes a first element comprising a first body member adapted to have a corsage secured thereto and means defining a socket integrally connected to the first body member. The device further includes a second element comprising a second body member and fastener means in the form of pins projecting outwardly therefrom. When the device is used in conjunction with a corsage, the

second element is adapted for disposition on the inside of the wearing apparel with the fastener pins adapted to pierce the wearing apparel and enter the socket of the first element to effect releasable engagement therebetween.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the fastener art, and more particularly, to a device of relatively simple and inexpensive construction which may be utilized to hold an object and secure it ina desired position. Although not limited to such use, the device may be used to hold a corsage or the like to an item of wearing apparel.

The most commonly used prior art expedients for securing a corsage to an item of wearing apparel are the simple straight pin or the safety pin which when being so utilized must be passed through the corsage, through the article of wearing apparel in the direction of the person wearing same, and then back through the item of wearing apparel to the corsage. While these pins provide simple expedients for accomplishing such securing function, they are unreliable and through the manipulation thereof the person wearing the item of apparel may be injured. It will be appreciated that there are many other areas calling for the use of a simple and effective securing means.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a securing device that is simple and inexpensive in construction while at the same time provides a means for positively securing an object in a desired position. For example, the device may be used to secure a corsage to an item of wearing apparel without danger of injury to the wearer.

The above-noted and other objects have been attained in accordance with the teachings of the present invention by providing a securing device comprising a first element and'a second element. The first element comprises an elongated body member which, when the device is used in conjunction with a corsage, is adapted to have said corsage secured thereto and socket defining means connected to the first elongated body member at the ends thereof. The second element comprises a second elongated body member which, when the device is so used, is adapted for disposition on the inside of the article of wearing apparel and fastener means in the form of a pair of pins projecting outwardly from the second elongated body member at the ends thereof. The pins are adapted to enter the sockets of the first element to effect releasable engagement therebetween. The socket defining means is in the form of a pair of enlarged portions, each of which defines a throughbore, which are disposed at opposite ends of the elongated first body member. The pins of the elongated second body member have a greater cross-sectional dimension than do the throughbores so that the pins are frictionally engaged by the enlarged portions upon entering said throughbores.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS just prior to same being utilized to fasten a corsage to an item of wearing apparel;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional elevational view of the device of FIG. 1 in an assembled condition; and

FIG. 3 is a view in cross-section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, for purposes of illustration a device constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is shown as being utilized in the capacity of a corsage holder and fastener; however, it should be understood that the device may be used in a wide variety of work contexts. The device comprises a first element generally designated by means of reference number 10 and a second element which is generally designated by means of reference numeral 12. Both the first and second elements are preferably constructed of nylon as by means of an injection molding technique.

The first element 10 comprises a first body member 14 which is of a generally elongated configuration and socket defining means in the form of enlarged portions 16 and 18 which define throughbores 20 and 22 and are integrally connected to the ends of elongated first body member 14 in the manner illustrated.

As may be seen most clearly with reference to FIG. 1, elongatedfirst body member 14 is adapted to have secured thereto a corsage 30, indicated by dotted lines, as by means of wire 32, also indicated by means of dotted lines, wrapped therearound. Each of said enlarged portions is indented as at 34 and 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) so that they define generally cone-shaped surfaces which flare outwardly from throughbores 20 and 22 in the manner illustrated. The operation of the cone-shaped surfaces will be described in greater detail below.

Second element 12 comprises a second elongated body member 40 which has fastener means in the form of pins 44 and 46 projecting outwardly therefrom at the two extreme ends thereof. The distal ends of the pins are pointed as shown and the pins have a generally cylindrical cross-section which is somewhat greater than the cross-section of throughbores 20 and 22.

In operation, when it is desired to apply a corsage or the like to an item of apparel, second element 12 is disposed on the inside of said item of wearing apparel. This may most clearly be seen with reference to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of an item of wearing apparel is indicated by means of reference numeral 50. Second element 12 is situated therebehind so that pins 44 and 46 extend outwardly. By forcing the item of wearing apparel against the pins, the pins are made to project therethrough through the formation of small holes 54 and 56. The pins are then forced by manual pressure into throughbores 29 and 22 in a manner which may more clearly be seen with reference to FIG. 2. Since the pins are somewhat greater in cross-section than the dimensions of throughbores 20 and 22 their insertion into the throughbores creates a frictional engagement between the internal walls of enlarged portion 16 and 18 and the outer peripheral walls of the pins. Nylon has been found to be a particularly good material of construction for facilitating such frictional engagement. In this manner, the corsage holder and fastener according to the present invention is secured to the item of wearing apparel. The cone-shaped surfaces 34 and 36 of the enlarged portions 16 and 18, respectively, cooperate with the distal ends of the pins to facilitate their entry into the proper throughbores in a manner which may be readily understood.

in actual practice, when the device of the present invention is used in the capacity of corsage holder and fastener, the corsage may be sold by the florist with the first element of the device already secured thereto. When it is desired to attach the device to an item of wearing apparel, the purchaser or other person will do so with the second element which has also been furnished by the florist at the time of corsage purchase.

With reference to the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that various changes and modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims. In addition, as previously pointed out, the device may be used in connection with articles other than Corsages. For example, the subject device may be used as a clamp for maintaining wires or the like in position.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device made of nylon or the like for securing corsages and the like to clothing comprising a first elongated bar-like member having at its ends enlarged portions in the form of alike and laterally directed cylindrical extensions, said extensions having axial cylindrical passageways which pass through said extensions and said member and are open at both ends, the outer ends of the extensions being conically dished to provide pin-guiding surfaces concentric to said passageways, and a second elongated bar-like member having at its ends alike and laterally directed cylindrically-shaped pin-pointed extensions of substantially constant diameter tightly frictionally engageable within said passageways. 

1. A device made of nylon or the like for securing corsages and the like to clothing comprising a first elongated bar-like member having at its ends enlarged portions in the form of alike and laterally directed cylindrical extensions, said extensions having axial cylindrical passageways which pass through said extensions and said member and are open at both ends, the outer ends of the extensions being conically dished to provide pin-guiding surfaces concentric to said passageways, and a second elongated bar-like member having at its ends alike and laterally directed cylindrically-shaped pin-pointed extensions of substantially constant diameter tightly frictionally engageable within said passageways. 